TV Schedule

Dillon Dam Releases Raising Blue River Levels

Peter Pereira from Centennial sent in this photo of Lake Dillon on July 1, 2010.

DILLON, Colo. (AP) – Denver Water is increasing releases from Dillon Reservoir so the dam can hold more water, but the move also could boost the Blue River above flood stage for a few weeks.

Denver Water had been keeping its reservoir levels low this spring because it expected plenty of spring snowmelt after a snowy winter. But Assistant Summit County Manager Thad Noll tells the Summit Daily News that rain from recent thunderstorms is melting leftover snow faster.

Flows into the Dillon Dam are now far higher than average, prompting Denver Water to boost outflows from the reservoir to above 1,800 cubic feet per second.

That’s considered flood stage for the Blue River downstream of the dam. Denver Water warns flows could stay high for the next few weeks.